From Urbino head southish en route to Arezzo on the S73, a route which crosses the Apennine range via the Bocca Trabaria Pass which is one of the highest road passes. Spectacular scenery plus spectacular driving by oncoming truckers around the hairpins maintained our interest! Viewed Anghiari as we passed. Set atop a hill and lit […]
In our experience, if you have a choice, when choosing a camp site to stay on, it really is best to avoid places with the word “International” attached. This generally seems to mean that the site would make an excellent refugee camp. Also, any camp with the word “Tennis” in the title means that they
Choosing a camping site. Read More »
In view of weather predictions we decide to head south. Arrive in Urbino a beautiful hill town in the heart of the Le Marche. The town is a real gem. All the hilly beauty, cobbled streets and great buildings without the crowds of tourists. Staying two night at the Hotel Bonconte which is right on
Heavy thunderstorms on the night of 21st. Chaos. Lashing rain and wind from the Adriatic. And on 22nd. Weather forecast is bleak for northern Italy. So we decide to forego a stay in Venice and a trip to Slovenia. Maybe next year! We head south. And stay in an actual hotel. With a bed and
Smaller than Bologna, but probably more interesting. It’s major attractions are the several mosaics in a number of churches. I’m not going to list them – you got Google. OK. Mosaics. Big deal. But even I was taken aback by their sheer exuberance. The colours are stunning. We liked this place so much that we
By train to Bologna from outlying commune. Very efficient and frequent service. Didn’t know what to expect but Bologna is a City worth a visit. Impressive wide streets with shops and eateries either side in sort of cloisters. Major squares and a huge statue depicting Neptune. Much work happening when we visited. Pavements up, barriers,
The thing about chemical toilets is that they need to be emptied. There are several styles of carrying the cassette which contains the waste. There’s the “proud that it’s out” kind of a guy (it usually is a man). There’s nothing covert about this. It gets swung around and generally sloshed. Then you’ve got the
Bring out yer night soil Read More »
Modena was our next planned destination. Peaceful drive down the motorway but eventually landed in the camp site from hell! Right at the end of the motorway. Ok that’s convenient. But there was a very miserable owner taking the cash in a garden shed in the middle of a field. There was a huge problem
Gorgeous drive along the Autostrada down to Levanto – a great place for exploring the Cinque Terre, five small towns in close proximity clinging to the cliffs high above the azure sea. The houses are multicoloured – makes you want to grab your easel and paints. Camp site turns out to be a gem. So
Lending a hand to sort out the droopy tree problems in Northern Italy.
Supporting the local infrastructure Read More »
